The cemetery adjoining St Mark’s Church at Deloraine is among five to be closed by the Anglican Church, while still under its management.
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The Trustees of the Anglican Diocese of Tasmania have advertised its intention to close the cemeteries on and from November 30.
The public notice comes days after the state government’s Burial and Cremation Amendment Bill passed the lower house and ahead of a looming deadline for the Anglican Diocese to announce which of the state’s churches will be sold to fund it redress.
Cemeteries belonging to St Mary Magdalene’s at George Town, St Andrews at Sprent, St Stephens at Penguin and Montagu in the state’s North West, were also listed to be closed from the end of the month.
The church, as cemetery manager, said it was unaware of any interments taking place at the listed cemeteries for at least the past 20 years, as well as any exclusive rights of future burial.
According to the public listing, “if any person believes they may have an exclusive right of burial at any of these cemeteries, or requires further information regarding their closure”, should contact the Anglican Diocese immediately.
St Stephens is the only cemetery adjoined to a church named on the diocese’s preliminary list of 107 properties proposed for sale.
The final list, including the fate of 76 churches located across the state, is expected to be released in December following the assessment of community submissions.
Proposed changes to the state’s Burial and Cremation Act were introduced earlier this year in response to community concerns over cemetery maintenance and access to the final resting places of loved ones.
Under the proposed changes, the time between the last burial and the closure of the cemetery will increase from 30 to 100 years.
Attorney General Elise Archer said the bill was an important step in “preserving, protecting and, where appropriate, strengthening the rights of community members and cemetery managers” and followed extensive consultation with the community and cemetery managers.
However Tasmanian Anglican Bishop Richard Condie argued the changes would increase the cost of future burial plots to between $10,000 and $15,000.
“Under this legislation, all cemetery managers will need to plan for 100 years of expenditure on a cemetery at the end of its active life, during which time there will be no further income,” he said.
The Burial and Cremation Amendment Bill will now be debated in the Legislative Council.
Claims for rights of burials can be made to the Anglican Diocese on 6220 2020 or at cemeteries@anglicantas.org.au.